# NTSB FTW73AF053: Bell 206B, N36AL, Patterson, LA, March 20, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: March 20, 1973
- Place: Patterson, LA · PATTERSON, LA
- Location: 29.6909° N, 91.3095° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Patterson, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6909&lon=-91.3095&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 170678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW73AF053
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73AF053

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0837  73/3/20    PATTERSON,LA        BELL 206B           CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 2975
        TIME - 0830                    N36AL               PX-  1  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 670 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EUGENE IS,BLK 295           PATTERSON,LA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           UNDETERMINED                                             UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - UNDETERMINED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON WATER
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        REMARKS- FLOATING WRECKAGE OF ACFT FOUND 35MI FROM DEP,8MI E OF PROPOSED FLT PATH. INJURIES ASSUMED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36AL-1973-06-26), registration cancelled 1973-06-26, S/N 826, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 206B
- Registry model: [Bell 206B](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-206b) (registry code 1181511) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Engines: turbo shaft
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19730320005879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730320005879A), Mar 20, 1973: Bell 206B1, Patterson, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Floating wreckage of acft found 35MI from dep,8MI e of proposed flt path. Injuries assumed.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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